The Crowd Goes Wild changes to earlier time slot

The Crowd Goes Wild co-host Mark Richardson.

Prime's sports show The Crowd Goes Wild will go head to head with TV1 and TV3's sports news in 2011 after changing to an earlier time slot, it was announced today.

The show, hosted by Mark Richardson and Andrew Mulligan, will be back on air from Monday January 17th at a new time of 6.30pm - providing sports fans with the day's sporting highlights 10 minutes before One News and 3 News air their sports news.

The Crowd Goes Wild previously aired at 7pm before it was moved to 10.30pm in October which angered fans of the show which has a cult following.

A petition titled 'Prime please move The Crowd Goes Wild back to 7pm' gained 1317 signatures while a Facebook group called 'Bring Back The Crowd Goes Wild to 7pm' got support from more than 2,400 people.

At the original 7pm slot The Crowd Goes Wild was competing against the likes of TVNZ's Close Up, Shortland Street and TV3's Campbell Live.

Mulligan is thrilled with the new time saying: "Nothing leads into Prime Evening News better than a light hearted look at the days sports highlights".

"It's a nod to the world that things are in their rightful place - after all we're not alone in thinking sports should take priority over News all the time," he said.

Prime says the show's popular slots including Smashed 'em Bro will be joined by some new features including handy tips for viewers on the best spots to undertake their favourite sporting past-times.